Emerging markets lift Roche in Q1
pharmafile | April 16, 2010 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Roche, emerging markets
Roche saw its sales grow 9% overall in the first quarter, with emerging markets medicines revenues showing a healthy 38% increase.
Costs associated with last year’s Genentech acquisition hit profits, but the company has nevertheless confirmed it will achieve double digit earnings per share in 2010.
Blockbuster cancer treatment Avastin remains Roche’s biggest seller, achieving CHF 1.67 billion with a growth of 18% compared to last year.
Its next biggest seller, blood cancer treatment MabThera/Rituxan saw its sales rise 13% to CHF 1.61 billion in the period, while Herceptin grew 11%, reaching CHF 1.42 billion.
Organ transplant treatment CellCept was one of just a handful of products to see revenues shrink, its sales declining 28% to CHF 357 million.
Flu treatment Tamiflu was a star performer in 2009 due to the H1N1 outbreak, but Roche has predicted a sharp decline in sales this year.
The rapid rise in ‘International’ sales (encompassing all emerging markets including Asia, South America etc) was helped by Tamiflu sales, but was led by strong growth in the oncology division. Herceptin was the biggest earning drug in these markets, rising 15% to CHF 372 million compared to the previous period.
In its diagnostics division, combined sales of blood glucose monitoring systems and insulin pumps grew 6% to CHF 708 million. The main growth drivers were its Accu-Chek Aviva and Accu-Check Performa BG monitoring systems.
In March, Roche was forced to suspend RA treatment ocrelizumab due to safety concerns based on recommendations by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board.
Roche also boasts a pipeline that include 61 NMEs, five new cancer drugs candidates and new formulations of both Herceptin and MabThera for easier patient administration.
Barring unforeseen events, Roche expects sales in 2010 for its pharma division and for the group to increase in the mid-single-digit range in local currencies (excluding Tamiflu). In diagnostics, Roche expects full-year sales to grow well ahead of the current market.
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